Early omens good for Geezer

Kildare 2-14 Donegal 1-13

The months of spring were invariably potted with results explained away by rumours of teams indulging in training sessions of inhuman proportions and others eschewing the heavy lifting for an early promotion push.

Problem was no-one knew for sure which.

Time and again expressions of amazement and/or disgust were subsequently explained away by some clued-in head on the terrace who had it on good authority that ‘the boys’ had been running up hills only the night before.

It made a mockery of form guides and predictions but the new rules dictating when exactly teams could return to training that came into force during the last off-season have at least initiated an element of certainty to it.

Now we know for sure when the playing field is anything but level and Saturday’s opener in Croke Park was a case in point.

Kildare, beaten in the last eight last season, took on the All-Ireland champions in the opening game of the 2013 Allianz Leagues knowing full well they had well over a month of extra work behind them .

Kieran McGeeney’s preparations began back on December 8, Jim McGuinness’ were given the green light on New Year’s Day but Donegal still had a holiday in Dubai to pack for and that ultimately told.

At one point, McGuinness was asked how fit his charges were on Saturday night compared to last September. His estimate varied between 65 and 70% and McGeeney was just as keen to highlight the disparity in pre-seasons.

“Any points are going to be great in this division and it is good to get them in Croke Park but we are also very aware of the context we got them in and Donegal are only back after a holiday,” said the Armagh man.

“They haven’t much football and they still put us to the pin of our collar. We showed a wee bit of character but we were a bit sloppy at times too. We should have been more comfortable at times but it was still a good result.”

Both sounded more or less content with their first evening’s work and there was very little cause for complaint from those watching on from the stands or the comfort of their homes via TV.

Donegal started swiftly but trailed by six points at the break, half of the deficit a result of a leaden-footed defence that allowed Tomas O’Connor pounce first to a free that rebounded off a Donegal post.

It looked game over midway through the second-half. Kildare led by 1-10 to 0-6 but Donegal rattled off six unanswered points before Johnny Doyle and Dermot Molloy traded soft goals within little more than 60 seconds.

Kildare’s superior fitness kicked them home from there.

The duel between Doyle and Michael Murphy, who claimed 1-14 of the combined total between them, was a contest in itself but overshadowed by the performances of some of Kildare’s younger brigade.

The injection of youth — as well as Jason Ryan as coach — has reinvigorated a side whose last appearance in HQ prior to this was a traumatising loss to Cork last August, and none more so than Niall Kelly.

The Athy man plays with a maturity beyond his teenage years and his uncanny ability to seemingly always be in the right place and find the right pass should prove invaluable for a team that has fallen agonisingly short on the biggest of days.

“They have come in to us and they will have to keep the feet on the ground,” said McGeeney. “This is February and it is nice to get the slaps on the back now but the real things are given out in the summer.”

Scorers for Kildare: J Doyle (1-5, 2 frees); T O’Connor (1-0); N Kelly (0-3); M Conway (0-2 frees); P O’Neill (0-1); B Flanagan (0-1); P Brophy (0-1); E O’Flaherty (0-1).

Scorers for Donegal: M Murphy (0-9, 6 frees); D Molloy (1-1); P McBrearty (0-2 frees); M McHugh (0-1).

KILDARE: S Connolly; O Lyons, P Kelly, H McGrillen; M Conway, M Foley, E Bolton; G White, P O’Neill; D Flynn, N Kelly, B Flanagan; T O’Connor, S Johnston, J Doyle.

Subs for Kildare: P Brophy for Johnston (56); E Doyle for Bolton (60); E O’Flaherty for White (63).

DONEGAL: P Durcan; D Walsh, N McGee, E McGee; F McGlynn, L McLoone, A Thompson; R Kavanagh, M McElhinney; M Boyle, M Murphy, R Bradley; C McFadden, R Wherrity, P McBrearty.

Subs for Donegal: D Molloy for McFadden (11); M McHugh for Boyle (32); D McLaughlin for McGlynn (35).

Referee: C Reilly (Meath).